[Study on the role of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling transduction pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 and L02 cell line]

Abstract

Aim: To explore the possible mechanism of action of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway in hepatocarcinogenesis by investigating the different expressions of the main members on this signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 and L02 cell line.

Methods: The mRNAs of Wnt1, Wnt4, beta-catenin, cyclinD1 and c-myc genes were amplified by means of semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in normal liver cell line L02 and hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2, respectively. At the same time, the proteins expression of beta-catenin which was the key member in the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway was examined by immunocytochemical method and Western blot technique.

Results: In normal liver cell line L02, the mRNAs of Wnt1, Wnt4, cyclin D1 and c-myc genes were not detected except for the gene of beta-catenin. In hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2, the mRNAs of Wnt1, beta-catenin, cyclin D1 and c-myc genes were detected except for the gene of Wnt4. Meanwhile, found that beta-catenin proteins were accumulated in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus in HepG2 but only in cell membrane in L02.Using Western blot technique, found that beta-catenin proteins expression was higher in HepG2 than in L02.

Conclusion: The Wnt/beta-catenin signaling transduction pathway is activated with aberrant expression of Wnt1 in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2.